Cuvette Carrier Variable Motion for Assay Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clinical analyzers are limited by a fixed incubation period tied to the physical layout of fluid delivery systems, restricting the variability of incubation times for different assays and requiring multiple fluid delivery stations, which limits assay protocols to a few distinct values.
Innovation Solution
Implementing variable cuvette carrier motions within a fixed time cycle allows for continuous variation in incubation times and reduces the number of fluid delivery stations by moving cuvettes different distances to different stations, enabling more flexible assay protocols and fluid delivery station placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cuvettes are moved along a fixed path with predetermined sequential fluid delivery stations, then the physical layout is simple and stable, but the incubation time variability is limited and assay protocol flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cuvette carrier is designed to move dynamically between stationary fluid delivery stations, adjusting its position and speed to provide variable incubation times. The carrier can pause at different locations and for different durations, allowing the same physical layout to support multiple incubation protocols without requiring additional stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary fluid delivery stations are designed to serve multiple functions and multiple cuvettes. Each station can deliver different reagents to different cuvettes at different times, and the cuvette carrier can return to the same station multiple times during an assay protocol, reducing the total number of stations needed while increasing versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluid delivery stations are provided to support varied incubation periods, then assay protocol flexibility is improved, but the number of stations increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fluid delivery functions are merged into fewer stationary stations. The cuvette carrier brings different cuvettes to the same station at different times, combining what would traditionally require separate stations into a single multi-functional location, thereby reducing the total number of stations while maintaining protocol flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds the time dimension to the spatial arrangement of fluid delivery stations. Instead of requiring more stations in space, the invention uses the time dimension by having the cuvette carrier revisit the same stations multiple times with different cuvettes at different intervals, achieving varied incubation periods without increasing the number of physical stations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cuvettes move fixed distances in each time cycle to sequential stations, then the machine cycle is simple and predictable, but the incubation time control is limited to discrete values
Solution Approach 1:
The cuvette carrier implements dynamic movement patterns within each machine cycle, adjusting pause durations and movement speeds to achieve continuous incubation time control. This allows incubation times to be precisely tuned for different assays while maintaining a consistent overall cycle time, thereby preserving assay throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameters of cuvette carrier movement rather than the spatial parameters. By varying the duration of pauses at intermediate locations and the speed of transit between stations, the system achieves continuous incubation time control without altering the fixed distances between fluid delivery stations, maintaining both precision and throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
The clinical analyzer includes a cuvette carrier that is moved in a manner to provide flexible assay timing and variable incubation periods. Multiple assays having such varied incubation times can be run concurrently in random-access, avoiding timing conflicts. Fluid delivery stations are placed around the cuvette carrier in positions that are independent of assay timing. The cuvettes move in unison, in multiples of incremental steps, along a closed geometrical path. The cuvette carrier is movable variable distances in opposite directions in a single time cycle to position specific cuvettes at specific locations for delivery of sample or reagent. The direction of movement of the cuvette carrier is preferably based on a determination of the shortest distance between the cuvette and respective fluid delivery stations. However, in each time cycle there is a net progressive incremental stepwise movement of the cuvettes in a selected direction.